College Essay & Voice
What trap does a writer fall into when they state "I am resilient" or "I am passionate" in their essay? How do they make this better?
Telling trap! Need to show these qualities through actions, choices, thoughts, and specific moments.
Who is the narrator of Carson McCullers' short story "Sucker"?
Pete
Based on our Syllabus Scavenger Hunt, what are two key sections you should ALWAYS check on a college syllabus?
(Any 2) Contact Info/Office Hours, Grading Breakdown, Course Policies (late work/attendance/AI), Important Dates/Exams, or Required Materials
What is the technical difference between a book challenge and a book ban?
A challenge is a formal request to remove or restrict a book; a ban means the book has actually been removed from a library or curriculum.
Name on aspect of your post-high school trajectory that is 100% in your control
your effort, how you manage your time, asking for help, reading the syllabus, how you respond to setbacks.
In the college essay guide, the section "Making it Fit" asks a student to:
Connect their story to one of the essay prompts.
How does Pete's treatment of Sucker change when things go well--and then poorly--with Maybelle?
When Maybelle is nice to Pete, he is kind to Sucker; when Maybelle rejects him, Pete becomes cruel to Sucker.
In the Zoe Gray's article "12 Things I Wish I Knew," why does she recommend going to professor ofice hours before something goes wrong?
It builds a genuine relationship early on, provides a networking opportunity, and makes it easier to ask for guidance or recommendations later on.
WHen researching a challenged book on the ALA website, what is one key record detail you recorded?
(Any 1) total documented attempts, where/when it happened, who asked and why, or the final outcome (retained, restricted, banned).
Name one aspect of college or workforce applications that is completely OUT of your control
Admissions decisions, who else applies, job interview outcomes, professor/boss/coworker personalities
What does it mean to "Zoom In" on a moment in a college essay draft?
Take a general statement or claim and use sensory details to SHOW the reader the exact words you used or the specific actions you took.
In the "Pete Says/Reader Infers" handout, what gap did we analyze between what Pete claims and what his actions actually show?
Pete claims/believes he is a victim, but his actions reveal he is blind to how his actions affected Sucker.
Lesson #4 in "12 Things" warns against trying to do everything in college and stresses "Depth>Breadth." What is her recommended number of clubs to join?
2-3 clubs
WHy is it important to fairly state what book challengers might believe, even if you strongly disagree with them?
Understanding their perspective allows you to address their concerns directly with evidence rather than labels, creating a stronger advocacy argument.
How can an ELA tool (like writing a professional email or using syllabus info) turn an "influence" situation into a "control" situation
It replaces guessing or waiting with direct self-advocacy and proactive planning.
During the peer review, partners were asked to do what in the "Blind Prompt Match"
Predict which Common App prompt the author was answering without being told, based only on the core message in the draft.
By the end of the story, how has Sucker changed in response to Pete's behavior?
Sucker stops looking up to Pete and becomes cold, hard, and distant.
On a course syllabus, what happens if you get 100% on every assignment but miss class beyond the allowed absence limit?
Your final grade drops or you are at risk of being withdrawn from the class
In the Mini-Letter prompt, what should support your argument when writing to a school board or library committee?
Specific evidence and text benefits
In Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken," what is the "road less traveled" really about?
It’s about the story we tell ourselves after making a decision. Both roads were equally worn, but after the fact, we create a narrative that our choice made all the difference.
It should reveal something about who you are, your values, or how you think in a way that wouldn't appear elsewhere on your transcript or resume. Include a reflection on why the moment you focused on matters to you/what you've learned from it.
What makes Pete an "unreliable narrator" in this story?
He rationalizes his own cruelty, victimizes himself, and fails to recognize how his own choices create a rift between him and Sucker.
In Lesson #11, why does Zoe Gray argue that "rest is actually productive"?
Your body and mind need downtime to survive and you cannot perform well, stay present, or bering your A-game if you are burnt out.
If a book search on the ALA site returns "No Record," what does that mean?
It means there are no formally documented challenges on file with the ALA.
What is the core takeaway of our closing unit regarding destiny and choice?
You cannot control every outcome or circumstance, but you control how you show up, how you advocate for yourself, and the story you choose to write.